I dread the silent, soulless sleep,
Terrors whisper before the dawn-
But in the Silence, I peer out
Th’ cleft Rock You sent my soul to keep.
The darkness cloaks its Shadows here,
Dark terrors steal my peaceful sleep!
But in the shadows, I seek out
Th’ cleft Rock You sent my soul to keep.
In silence, but for fatal cry,
Your Son fell to the soulless sleep.
He dragged terrors wi’ him, agony,
Th’ cleft Son you sent my soul to keep.
Th’ cleft Son you sent my soul to keep,
He lights my way past dreary halls.
Into Your chambers, I peer in--
You send my soul to restful sleep.
This was also posted here some time ago:
http://pensofglory.com/?p=593
It's a good website. I highly recommend writers to post there, and readers to read stuff!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Don't be a Mirror Man.
In my quest to find verses concerning perseverance, I found a delightful passage in James that I would like to share with you all. This passage actually got me thinking on something else that I know I really needed to hear, and thought I might share with you all.
To expound, a mirror man is the man who sees his natural state, pities and mourns over it for the length he reflects on his projected image, but turns his back and allows the image of his true state to slip from his mind. The next time he comes across his reflection, he repeats. He sees set before him his true nature, but is unwilling to change that reflection. Rather than allowing God to mold the image to reflect Him, a mirror man says "Oh my, look at that. I should try to do better next time." A mirror man is about himself. He sees the list of things he must be and do in order to be deemed 'righteous and holy', and quickly becomes overwhelmed, turning his back and allowing himself to forget. But a true man (or woman) of God, sees the image and cries out to their Saviour, pleading for the opportunity to be molded in the image of Christ. They seek out the chances that will allow them to do those things that will grow and strengthen them in more ways than one. They seek not the glory and fame, the shallow image of a good Christian, but rather the very image of Christ. There is a difference.
I suggest you take the time to truly study the essence of Christ and seek Him, rather than what He asks you to do. Rather than using actions to change you, allow Christ's work in you to change your actions. Allow his words to shape and mold you. When he gives you a command, do it. No matter how hard. Now matter how impossible. Allow your faith to carry you, don't try to carry your faith through. Persevere in the hard things. There is a reason we have to be doers rather than hearers. We aren't going to always desire to do what's right. We have to fight the desires to do otherwise, and make a concious decision to choose the hard and narrow path. Faith is not a feeling. It is a decision. Just as with love and compassion. You have to choose to believe. Choose to love. Choose to do.
The Gospel message is not for you alone. It is not centered on you. It is centered on Christ and intended for everyone. Hearing the Gospel makes it about you, and how you go about telling others. Doing the Gospel makes it about Christ, and shows the Gospel to the world the way God delights to do so. For this reason I say, don't be a mirror man. Don't hear the word, see your reflection, and allow the image to fall away from your memory. Do the word, and allow your reflection to be the face of Christ, always keeping it at the forefront.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.When I first read this I read James 1: 25 and immediately had the idea to write a post on persevering in the perfect law of liberty. However, upon reading the context of the passage, it was the analogy that caught and held my attention. I thought upon it for a few moments, and realized how it perfectly reinforced my thoughts from early today on how I had begun to hear the things of God, but was no longer doing them. I was falling into that pitiful rut of going through the motions. It struck my heart that I had been hearing, but not doing. I had thought in my mind "I want to be holy and righteous" but I was taking no action to bring myself to that state. I was being a mirror man.
~James 1: 19-25
To expound, a mirror man is the man who sees his natural state, pities and mourns over it for the length he reflects on his projected image, but turns his back and allows the image of his true state to slip from his mind. The next time he comes across his reflection, he repeats. He sees set before him his true nature, but is unwilling to change that reflection. Rather than allowing God to mold the image to reflect Him, a mirror man says "Oh my, look at that. I should try to do better next time." A mirror man is about himself. He sees the list of things he must be and do in order to be deemed 'righteous and holy', and quickly becomes overwhelmed, turning his back and allowing himself to forget. But a true man (or woman) of God, sees the image and cries out to their Saviour, pleading for the opportunity to be molded in the image of Christ. They seek out the chances that will allow them to do those things that will grow and strengthen them in more ways than one. They seek not the glory and fame, the shallow image of a good Christian, but rather the very image of Christ. There is a difference.
I suggest you take the time to truly study the essence of Christ and seek Him, rather than what He asks you to do. Rather than using actions to change you, allow Christ's work in you to change your actions. Allow his words to shape and mold you. When he gives you a command, do it. No matter how hard. Now matter how impossible. Allow your faith to carry you, don't try to carry your faith through. Persevere in the hard things. There is a reason we have to be doers rather than hearers. We aren't going to always desire to do what's right. We have to fight the desires to do otherwise, and make a concious decision to choose the hard and narrow path. Faith is not a feeling. It is a decision. Just as with love and compassion. You have to choose to believe. Choose to love. Choose to do.
The Gospel message is not for you alone. It is not centered on you. It is centered on Christ and intended for everyone. Hearing the Gospel makes it about you, and how you go about telling others. Doing the Gospel makes it about Christ, and shows the Gospel to the world the way God delights to do so. For this reason I say, don't be a mirror man. Don't hear the word, see your reflection, and allow the image to fall away from your memory. Do the word, and allow your reflection to be the face of Christ, always keeping it at the forefront.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
I would like to introduce you all to one of my favorite sites and a great resource for teen writers. This is the official introduction video and it explains a good deal of what it's all about. My favorite thing about this place? The acceptance. The do hard things attitude. No one is told they aren't good enough. I will sum it up with a comment I left on the site just a few days ago:
"This community has most definitely impacted me! It has provided me with a fresh desire and passion for picking up my pen, and has given me hope that it is possible for teens to write well and be successful in their endeavors. And not only that, but I have been introduced to the first adult that is willing to take his time to mold and shape teenagers into great writers.
So many times I’ve been discouraged by adults who don’t think I’m very good, because, well, I’m a teen! They point out my errors, and instead of helping me find the solution they walk away, leaving me puzzled. That doesn’t happen here! Everyone gathers together, lovingly tears the given work apart and gently builds it into something far stronger and better. No one is slandered, put down, or humiliated here. It warms my heart and brightens my smile to see what goes on here at CalebBreakey.com. My only regret is that I didn’t jump in sooner, when I had the chance!
I can’t wait to see how this community grows and changes. This has the potential to change not only how the world views teen writers, but how they view themselves. I am so thankful for Caleb and all the other members of this community, and everyone who is yet to come!"
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Following God's will for me, not you.
As many people know, it's NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). For those of you who don't know what it is, I suggest you check it out. Hundreds of thousands of people are participating in the madness this year, including myself, and at least two other We Shall Speak member, Kalev and Hannah Marie.
On my personal blog I posted that I would not be blogging for the month of November, but I decided I would take a small break and write this. This has been something that has really stuck out to me this month more than ever before.
I was really excited about NaNoWriMo this year. Last year I particpated in the YWP version and my word count goal was merely 10, 000 for the entire month. I made it with 5,000 extra words and only the beginning of a novel. This year I was ready to take the full challenge. I had improved drastically in my writing skills and abilities, as well as gaining much confidence in this past year. I also had a laptop and more time to help things along. I breathed in deep and grinned wide. I was going to do this, and I was going to do it well.
So I rubbed my hands together and began my exciting work of fiction. 2, 600 something words into it I realized something. My story was very boring. I knew the plot, and I knew it was not, but the beginning was just plain boring. So I talked to my mom, who suggested a Prologue. So I wrote a 2, 300 something word Prologue. And then I realized something else. My Prologue outshined the rest of the book. So I switched to another story. 300 words into that and I was bored. So I talked to a dear buddy of mine who said to ditch both and just start over. So I took my Prologue in hand and began writing. I had no idea what it would be about... it just had to be something.
So I let the ideas flow, not knowing where the story would take me. It landed me in the Great Depression, to begin with. Once that was established other ideas began to form. I was asked for a synopsis of my book. I made the entire idea up, spur of the moment. But it worked. I liked it. I was eager to write this book. I envisioned myself, 50,000 words later, a best-selling author. Well, okay, I wasn't thinking that far, but I was thinking towards publishing (still am, just to let you know). That's when I posted on my personal blog that I'd be taking a break.
That's when I read that other post. I followed her blog, therefore, I got her blog posts in my dashboard feed. I thought "Oh, she's posted a farewell for now post, too. I should read it." And so I did. That's when it began. I became... you might say jealous. Here was a girl that I knew outshined me. Her writing abilities superb, talked about amongst everyone. Her work was pointed out and displayed, published and praised. She had what I wanted. Appreciated work. Skill. Brains. A gift. Words flowed from her fingers like a raging river with no end.
What's more is that I was jealous of her time. Here was a girl who had six hours to devote to writing, and who loftily (or so I thought) claimed that only 150, 000 words would do. I seethed inside (seethed may be a slight exaggeration, but hey... I wasn't happy). I had worked hard and struggled forever to achieve what I had now. To be outshined by one with a natural ease and poise with words made me tremble. It caused strain and lack of diligence, as well as focus and concentration, costing me valuable working time.
Now in the above story (which is entirely true, I assure you) note the over abundance of "I"s and "me"s. It wasn't long before I realized my conceit and self centeredness. I was stricken. I had wasted precious brain energy focusing on the envisioned "competition" that I had not done my utmost on the story God had given me to tell. I was so caught up in wanting the will of God for her life, that I forgot that God had a special will for mine, too. And it was a different will, but just as good.
It was when I realized that writing was not about me, or you, or the publisher, or the editor. It's not about what one person does compared to another. It's about God. It's about taking what He's given you and putting it into action. This applies to all of life. When we get so caught up in the will of God for others, we lose focus of following His will for us, and we pay for it. If her life were meant for me, I'd have it. Apparently her life wasn't meant for me, therefore, I don't. But never would I trade my life, nor my calling. Perhaps my gift is not the same, or perhaps my skills are lesser than hers, or perhaps my style is unique from hers, but God gave me different skills, a different style, a different story to write.
When I began focusing on my story, and my goals, and no one's dreams but mine and God's things began to shape up. I began meeting my goals and going beyond (and then slacking back when other household chores and duties came up. * sigh *). I encourage you guys to stop feeling under rated, under par, unskilled, or unappreciated. Look to the One who gave you your gifts, Who gave you that calling, Who put you in that direction. If each one of us were like another, life would be a constant repeat. So I challenge you to stop comparing and start preparing. God's given you a journey especially for you. Seek Him. Find it. Follow it. And let His appreciation be your motivation.
On my personal blog I posted that I would not be blogging for the month of November, but I decided I would take a small break and write this. This has been something that has really stuck out to me this month more than ever before.
I was really excited about NaNoWriMo this year. Last year I particpated in the YWP version and my word count goal was merely 10, 000 for the entire month. I made it with 5,000 extra words and only the beginning of a novel. This year I was ready to take the full challenge. I had improved drastically in my writing skills and abilities, as well as gaining much confidence in this past year. I also had a laptop and more time to help things along. I breathed in deep and grinned wide. I was going to do this, and I was going to do it well.
So I rubbed my hands together and began my exciting work of fiction. 2, 600 something words into it I realized something. My story was very boring. I knew the plot, and I knew it was not, but the beginning was just plain boring. So I talked to my mom, who suggested a Prologue. So I wrote a 2, 300 something word Prologue. And then I realized something else. My Prologue outshined the rest of the book. So I switched to another story. 300 words into that and I was bored. So I talked to a dear buddy of mine who said to ditch both and just start over. So I took my Prologue in hand and began writing. I had no idea what it would be about... it just had to be something.
So I let the ideas flow, not knowing where the story would take me. It landed me in the Great Depression, to begin with. Once that was established other ideas began to form. I was asked for a synopsis of my book. I made the entire idea up, spur of the moment. But it worked. I liked it. I was eager to write this book. I envisioned myself, 50,000 words later, a best-selling author. Well, okay, I wasn't thinking that far, but I was thinking towards publishing (still am, just to let you know). That's when I posted on my personal blog that I'd be taking a break.
That's when I read that other post. I followed her blog, therefore, I got her blog posts in my dashboard feed. I thought "Oh, she's posted a farewell for now post, too. I should read it." And so I did. That's when it began. I became... you might say jealous. Here was a girl that I knew outshined me. Her writing abilities superb, talked about amongst everyone. Her work was pointed out and displayed, published and praised. She had what I wanted. Appreciated work. Skill. Brains. A gift. Words flowed from her fingers like a raging river with no end.
What's more is that I was jealous of her time. Here was a girl who had six hours to devote to writing, and who loftily (or so I thought) claimed that only 150, 000 words would do. I seethed inside (seethed may be a slight exaggeration, but hey... I wasn't happy). I had worked hard and struggled forever to achieve what I had now. To be outshined by one with a natural ease and poise with words made me tremble. It caused strain and lack of diligence, as well as focus and concentration, costing me valuable working time.
Now in the above story (which is entirely true, I assure you) note the over abundance of "I"s and "me"s. It wasn't long before I realized my conceit and self centeredness. I was stricken. I had wasted precious brain energy focusing on the envisioned "competition" that I had not done my utmost on the story God had given me to tell. I was so caught up in wanting the will of God for her life, that I forgot that God had a special will for mine, too. And it was a different will, but just as good.
It was when I realized that writing was not about me, or you, or the publisher, or the editor. It's not about what one person does compared to another. It's about God. It's about taking what He's given you and putting it into action. This applies to all of life. When we get so caught up in the will of God for others, we lose focus of following His will for us, and we pay for it. If her life were meant for me, I'd have it. Apparently her life wasn't meant for me, therefore, I don't. But never would I trade my life, nor my calling. Perhaps my gift is not the same, or perhaps my skills are lesser than hers, or perhaps my style is unique from hers, but God gave me different skills, a different style, a different story to write.
When I began focusing on my story, and my goals, and no one's dreams but mine and God's things began to shape up. I began meeting my goals and going beyond (and then slacking back when other household chores and duties came up. * sigh *). I encourage you guys to stop feeling under rated, under par, unskilled, or unappreciated. Look to the One who gave you your gifts, Who gave you that calling, Who put you in that direction. If each one of us were like another, life would be a constant repeat. So I challenge you to stop comparing and start preparing. God's given you a journey especially for you. Seek Him. Find it. Follow it. And let His appreciation be your motivation.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Blog Buttons and Other Thoughts.
We Shall Speak is run entirely by volunteers; young people with a passion for writing and spreading the truths of the Gospel with everyone. Our current project is about to begin and our numbers have dwindled from a hearty twenty-six members to our current five faithfuls. We need people who are willing to help and commit time to this project, or we will fail. So in light of this, for those who perhaps can't commit their time to the project, but would like to help in some way, we have a little something to help spread the word. We have blog buttons! There are a few different variations, with more on the way. On our "Blog Buttons" page there is also a little blinkie, for those who are interested in that. We do need your help. We can't do it without you guys.
I will reiterate for you guys, that those who are interested in volunteering as writers, editors, or both, may email us at weshallspeak@gmail.com. However, it does require commitment. Please pray about it before joining. I encourage you to talk to your parents and evaluate your other commitments. If you can't truly give us your heart when writing, perhaps it isn't the best time. Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God. Make Him the focus of this project, of your time, and efforts. I encourage you now to not only pray concerning this, not just limit your focus on Him as the center only in this, but to extend it to every part of your life. Let Him be the reason you do anything and that you are able to do anything.
We also would love to hear from you how this blog (and eventually the books we hope to get out) have blessed you. We'd like to know how we can better serve you. Are there things you would like to see on this blog? Suggestions? Questions? We love emails and comments! Let us know what you are thinking of We Shall Speak. Perhaps all you can give is prayer, we would love that. Anything that you can do to help us out, we appreciate more than you know. We thank those of you who read the blog, and we especially thank those of you who have remained faithful to the project. May God be glorified in it and may we all be blessed by it.
Thank you all!
Monday, September 27, 2010
I Need You, Jesus.
I sat pondering why I felt so... average. Where had my joy gone? Where was the unabounding, all consuming joy that permeated every aspect, ever breath, every thought of life? I spoke with a friend. They asked what had happened? Who had done it? Why was I so down? I explained to them, it was no one. Nothing. It was all inside. I didn't care anymore, there was no motivation. I had lost my fire. And then it hit me. I needed my Jesus back. He was the only reason for doing anything. And so I told my friend that I knew what was wrong. I needed my Jesus as my focus. When that thought came the sweetest thing happened. I heard a song in my head- one of my favorite worship songs. The verse I remembered is as follows.
And I need you Jesus to come to my rescue.
Where else can I go?
There's no other name by
which I am saved.
You capture me with grace,
I will follow You.
I felt the tears come immediately to my eyes. What a sweet thing I had, and yet I had fallen away from, even if not completely. I was looking at the dirt and the stones around the cross-the ordinary things- but I was no longer seeing the cross. And him. And what he'd done for me, so that I could have fire, so that I could have joy, so that I could have peace.
I was focused on something that was, in itself, not all satisfying. Whether we focus on school, careers, marriage, reading, music, etc. as our ultimate goal, our end in life, we will always find discontentment and satisfaction. Nothing is an end in itself but God. If you focus on school, you'll get school; if you focus on reading, you'll be read; if you focus on music, you'll get music. That's how it is. When you achieve it, that's it. Life is empty. It doesn't go beyond that. But when we focus on God, we focus on someone that is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and never ending. There is no end. We never reach a point of achievement in which we throw our hands up and say "What now?". And the pursuit of God gives so much more than the pursuit of anything else. If marriage is your chief end, you'll get marriage. But if God is your chief end, you get eternal life and oftentimes a marriage as well. A marriage cannot be all satisfying, but God more than satisfies.
We must choose to drop our focus on the things of life and the things of this world and focus on the only thing that remains stable and true. This life is shallow, deceitful, and short. If we sow the seeds of our life there, we shall reap them there. We need to look ahead and determine now what end we choose for ourselfs. For me, the only true end in itself is Jesus Christ.
Philipians 1:21 sums it up so well stating "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
And I need you Jesus to come to my rescue.
Where else can I go?
There's no other name by
which I am saved.
You capture me with grace,
I will follow You.
I felt the tears come immediately to my eyes. What a sweet thing I had, and yet I had fallen away from, even if not completely. I was looking at the dirt and the stones around the cross-the ordinary things- but I was no longer seeing the cross. And him. And what he'd done for me, so that I could have fire, so that I could have joy, so that I could have peace.
I was focused on something that was, in itself, not all satisfying. Whether we focus on school, careers, marriage, reading, music, etc. as our ultimate goal, our end in life, we will always find discontentment and satisfaction. Nothing is an end in itself but God. If you focus on school, you'll get school; if you focus on reading, you'll be read; if you focus on music, you'll get music. That's how it is. When you achieve it, that's it. Life is empty. It doesn't go beyond that. But when we focus on God, we focus on someone that is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and never ending. There is no end. We never reach a point of achievement in which we throw our hands up and say "What now?". And the pursuit of God gives so much more than the pursuit of anything else. If marriage is your chief end, you'll get marriage. But if God is your chief end, you get eternal life and oftentimes a marriage as well. A marriage cannot be all satisfying, but God more than satisfies.
We must choose to drop our focus on the things of life and the things of this world and focus on the only thing that remains stable and true. This life is shallow, deceitful, and short. If we sow the seeds of our life there, we shall reap them there. We need to look ahead and determine now what end we choose for ourselfs. For me, the only true end in itself is Jesus Christ.
Philipians 1:21 sums it up so well stating "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
Monday, September 13, 2010
We Are Called to Be Ourselves
We found this excellent blog post by We Shall Speak team member Hannah Marie, and with her permission, aew sharing it with you all. You can check out her blog here, for more insightful posts!
As you read through the following post, please take your time to read it and evaluate it's message. It is a very important message that relates to each and everyone of us whether we are far along in our walk with Christ, or just beginning. For those that aren't Christians, these are still words that I hope you will take to heart. This is an excellent picture of what a walk with Christ will do in you.
~*~`.~*~`.~*~`.~*~`.~*.~`.~*~`.~*~`.~*~`.~*~`.~*~`.~*~`.~*~`.~*~`.~*~
A couple days ago, an acquaintance of mine came up to me and said "I need to talk with you about Christianity." Of course, me being how I am said 'absolutely' and followed them to a quieter place to discuss it. And the conversation went something like this:
While there was more to that specific conversation, this little bit started me thinking. I find so many Christians who are seeking change and cloaking themselves with rigorous schedules or enhanced knowledge simply to get further towards that change. Sometimes we naturally begin to equate 'becoming more like Christ' to 'changing who we are.' We make Christianity a religion rather than a relationship. We create expectations for ourselves that cannot be achieved by ourselves. And we deceive ourselves into thinking that God will help us achieve what we have now set out to accomplish.
Let me explain it this way: come to the Lord as you are, with the characteristics that you already possess, and continue to possess those characteristics throughout your relationship with Him. God is not going to strip the characteristics you already have in order to make you a brand new person, but He is going to give you a new purpose for which you are to use those characteristics for. Before you were brought into His grace, the purpose by which you lived your life by amounted to nothing other than self-fulfillment and sin. But, upon entering into a covenant with Christ, the purpose by which you live your life becomes one of glorifying Him and being a light to Him. Those same qualities you possessed before are the same that you possess afterwards. However, the purpose with which you implicate those characteristics and the goals in which you strive to achieve through utilizing those qualities changes.
If you are naturally sacrificial in nature, then you will continue to be sacrificial, but to a different end. If you are naturally an introvert, then you will continue to be an introvert but to a different purpose. If you are naturally a talker, then you will continue to be a talker but to a different message. If you are naturally a wood-worker, then you will continue to be a wood-worker but to a different result. Your identity and who you are will never be lost; they will be redefined. You can be your complete and total self with the Lord, but do not expect to stay the same throughout the relationship. God loves to let His light change people by the way of making each and every one of their individual characteristics be a magnetic to Him.
I know in my life I run across people who have completely different qualities and beliefs on certain issues than I do; they have different strengths or outlooks. Too often a time have I looked at their qualities and coveted them because I think they are better or more developed than mine are. Recently, I have begun to fully realize that if I took on their qualities, I would lose my identity and end up pursuing another identity. When we are walking with Christ, we do not lose our identity; we give it a new focus. My tendency to give up my life for another without hesitation is a gift from God that I can pursue all for His glory. Another person may view my attitude as reckless and that view can be used for the glory of God as well. We are not all to become clones to one another; we are to provide balance to one another.
That is why the body of Christ, the church, is so important; that is why fellowship is so important. Where others go one way, there is always someone else who goes the opposite way. And we need those people to occasionally knock sense into us and realize that we may not be using our qualities to the glory of the Lord as much as we think we are. The whole message of Christianity is not to change into another person but rather to let the relationship with the Lord of Heaven and Earth change the ideals that we so desperately pursue, to change the direction we are headed. So, we may all take comfort in the fact that we are not called to be someone else; that is religion. Instead, we are called to pursue something else; that is relationship.
As you read through the following post, please take your time to read it and evaluate it's message. It is a very important message that relates to each and everyone of us whether we are far along in our walk with Christ, or just beginning. For those that aren't Christians, these are still words that I hope you will take to heart. This is an excellent picture of what a walk with Christ will do in you.
~*~`.~*~`.~*~`.~*~`.~*.~`.~*~`.~*~`.~*~`.~*~`.~*~`.~*~`.~*~`.~*~`.~*~
A couple days ago, an acquaintance of mine came up to me and said "I need to talk with you about Christianity." Of course, me being how I am said 'absolutely' and followed them to a quieter place to discuss it. And the conversation went something like this:
"I hear so much about 'becoming more like Jesus' and taking on the characteristics of the Savior from so many Christians. Yet, I am not looking for that. I am not looking for becoming somebody or taking on characteristics of someone else. I have tried that so many times throughout my years and it has never made me happier or more satisfied. Yet, Christian's claim that taking on the characteristics of someone else, this one person, is supposed to fill me up? I really don't get it. I don't want to become someone; I want to be who I am and stay that way."
"I see what you are saying, but I think you have it all wrong. God isn't asking you to change who you are; God is asking you to follow Him. Jesus isn't looking for a duplicate of Himself; Jesus is looking for someone who is willing to follow Him in achieving the same purpose in life. Sometimes people make Christianity more into a religion than the relationship it actually is. Religion demands you change; relationship gives new direction."
"Okay, so am I actually supposed to change?"
"No, you are not supposed to change. In fact, you cannot make yourself change. The change happens as the Lord shapes your life around His purpose."
While there was more to that specific conversation, this little bit started me thinking. I find so many Christians who are seeking change and cloaking themselves with rigorous schedules or enhanced knowledge simply to get further towards that change. Sometimes we naturally begin to equate 'becoming more like Christ' to 'changing who we are.' We make Christianity a religion rather than a relationship. We create expectations for ourselves that cannot be achieved by ourselves. And we deceive ourselves into thinking that God will help us achieve what we have now set out to accomplish.
Let me explain it this way: come to the Lord as you are, with the characteristics that you already possess, and continue to possess those characteristics throughout your relationship with Him. God is not going to strip the characteristics you already have in order to make you a brand new person, but He is going to give you a new purpose for which you are to use those characteristics for. Before you were brought into His grace, the purpose by which you lived your life by amounted to nothing other than self-fulfillment and sin. But, upon entering into a covenant with Christ, the purpose by which you live your life becomes one of glorifying Him and being a light to Him. Those same qualities you possessed before are the same that you possess afterwards. However, the purpose with which you implicate those characteristics and the goals in which you strive to achieve through utilizing those qualities changes.
If you are naturally sacrificial in nature, then you will continue to be sacrificial, but to a different end. If you are naturally an introvert, then you will continue to be an introvert but to a different purpose. If you are naturally a talker, then you will continue to be a talker but to a different message. If you are naturally a wood-worker, then you will continue to be a wood-worker but to a different result. Your identity and who you are will never be lost; they will be redefined. You can be your complete and total self with the Lord, but do not expect to stay the same throughout the relationship. God loves to let His light change people by the way of making each and every one of their individual characteristics be a magnetic to Him.
I know in my life I run across people who have completely different qualities and beliefs on certain issues than I do; they have different strengths or outlooks. Too often a time have I looked at their qualities and coveted them because I think they are better or more developed than mine are. Recently, I have begun to fully realize that if I took on their qualities, I would lose my identity and end up pursuing another identity. When we are walking with Christ, we do not lose our identity; we give it a new focus. My tendency to give up my life for another without hesitation is a gift from God that I can pursue all for His glory. Another person may view my attitude as reckless and that view can be used for the glory of God as well. We are not all to become clones to one another; we are to provide balance to one another.
That is why the body of Christ, the church, is so important; that is why fellowship is so important. Where others go one way, there is always someone else who goes the opposite way. And we need those people to occasionally knock sense into us and realize that we may not be using our qualities to the glory of the Lord as much as we think we are. The whole message of Christianity is not to change into another person but rather to let the relationship with the Lord of Heaven and Earth change the ideals that we so desperately pursue, to change the direction we are headed. So, we may all take comfort in the fact that we are not called to be someone else; that is religion. Instead, we are called to pursue something else; that is relationship.
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